How to grow oregano
Oregano plants are an absolute must-have in any kitchen garden. These woody perennial plants typically grows from 20-80 tall, whilst there are a number of varieties which grow close to the ground and provide excellent cover. They look truly wonderful in the garden, with pretty pale flowers that come out in the summer, and have a fantastic fragrance too. Typically used in Greek and Mediterranean dishes, oregano, fresh or dried, adds a hint of pepper, slight sweetness and a lovely earthy aroma.
Where is best to plant oregano in the garden
Originating from Mediterranean climates, oregano loves a warm, sunny spot with good drainage. It's best to plant them somewhere where they will be sheltered from strong winds as they can be a little delicate. If you're growing in particularly clay soil, add in some fresh compost or grit to help with the drainage. They'll grow very well in pots, raised beds and directly in the ground
How to grow oregano
Oregano can be grown from seed or cuttings, but buying plants is certainly the easiest way to get this perennial established. Once you've got a plant or two, you can them propagate cuttings to multiply your stock for the future for your own garden, or to give as gifts to others. All you need to do is snip a healthy stem around 10-15cm long, remove the lower leaves, and place it in a glass of water in a sunny spot. Once you start to see the roots emerge and they are about 3-5cm long, you can then transplant your new plants into compost and grow on until they are ready to be planted out after the last frost.
How to prune your oregano plants
To get the very best out of your oregano plants, you want to harvest the flavourful leaves regularly. Once the last frost has passed, give your plants a good trim back, this will keep them compact and help encourage a new fresh flush of growth for the summer season. Then, at the end of autumn/early winter a few weeks before the first frost, you can give your plants another light trim to stop them from going woody over the winter. Don't forget to deadhead the summer flowers either before they start to set seed as you want your plants to pour their energy into producing beautiful leaves.
How to care for oregano in the winter
It doesn't hurt to give your oregano plants a mulch ahead of the winter to add some nutrients to the soil and give it an extra layer of protection. Otherwise, simply ensure that the roots aren't left waterlogged. Pots can be moved and positioned against a wall to help reduce the rainfall. If you're worried about plants in the ground getting waterlogged, they can be dug up and kept in pots over the winter. Just be sure to add something to improve the drainage when you replant them so that you needn't disturb the plant each year.
Which varieties of oregano should I add to my garden?
Now this is a tricky choice, but here are a few of the varieties we really, really love:
- Oregano Hot'n'Spicy - a fun twist on the classic with a spicy kick!
- Oregano 'Country Cream' - a beautiful variegated variety that looks stunning in pots
Growing oregano at home or at your allotment is such a rewarding process. You can easily add them into butters, flavoured oils, dry them and crush them to store in jars or use them fresh making them an incredibly versatile crop!
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